TEAM SUMMIT!

We had the honor of hosting our first "official" team from our home church in Kernersville, North Carolina.  It was a week we will always remember!  We had so much fun getting to know everyone on the team better and introducing our old friends to our new friends at Betania Iglesia (church).

We held a VBS for the community kids on Sunday afternoon. We stole an idea from The Summit Church's VBS this past summer and had a contest to see who could eat bananas through panty hose faster . At least we hope they understood.....if not, we taught them how to have a snack while robbing a bank.

Dustin Walters and Chris Tallman were brave volunteers who participated in the "Nica-hawk" hair gel styling contest. 

The team taught a Bible story about Jesus and the fishermen, which is very relevant in parts of this country where fishing is a common livelihood. 

We played corn hole, frisbee, and smashed up a few piñatas with the kids.

On Monday, the men went to the vocational school with Cory to work on putting together new pews for the church. The church is growing and running out of seating, which is a great problem to have, as they reach out to the community. The women stayed behind  on the mountain and helped out with the preschool children.

Gina Newnum was appalled that these children have never been taught to curtsy!

Ashley Johnson claims not to like children, but we have proof otherwise.

The women from The Summit Church hosted an afternoon "tea" for the mothers and grandmothers of the preschool children. Most of these local families do not attend the church and are not a part of a Christian home. The women from the team shared their testimonies with them and prayed with the moms over the struggles they face daily, such as domestic violence, sick children, and economic issues.

On Tuesday and Wednesday we painted the church and the preschool. It really brightened up the classroom!

Donna Johnson and her husband, Gerald Johnson, painting.

Pastor Emilio with bananas he cut from his tree as a snack for the team.

Elizabeth Walters with our Amelie painting the front of the building.

The local men from the church came out and worked alongside us.

As you can see, safety was our primary concern.

Gina making friends with the local children from Masatepe.

When the work was finished, the church cooked the Summit team a typical Nicaraguan dinner out on our farm to say thank you for all they had done. We ate, sang, and laughed with our new friends in both English and Spanish.

Machismo translates in every language.

Melinda Shrewsbury and Mayra Urbina.

 On Thursday, the men took us to the vocational school to show us what they had been working on earlier in the week. They not only built new pews for the church, but also a staircase for physical therapy at a special needs school.

Ashley Johnson helping with the blacksmithing demonstration.

Gerald Johnson, Cory Martin, and Chris Tallman present their staircase to the school, Tesorios de Dios
(or Treasures of God).

A boy undergoing horseback riding therapy.

We also visited a Compassion project in Los Brasiles, a poor community just west of Managua. Many people from The Summit Church sponsor children at this project. Elizabeth and Dustin Walters and Melinda Shrewsbury were able to meet their children and spend the day together.

Oscar, together with his mother and little sister, is meeting the Walters for the first time.

Melinda sponsors Iris with the help of the 8th grade girls she works with in Impact on Wednesday nights.

Iris with her family in their home. 

 On Friday, we had a bit of fun.....

Of course, what is a trip to Nicaragua without visiting an active volcano?

The brave ziplining crew!

Prayer requests:

Please pray about sponsoring a Christmas gift at $10 for one of the local kids in our community. Gifts are purchased here for the children's Christmas outreach program at Betania Iglesia.  Let us know if you are interested!